Social Policy Specialist in Kenya

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is currently seeking applications from the eligible applicants for the post of Social Policy Specialist in Kenya.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

For every child, an advocate:

How can you make a difference?

Under direct supervision of the Social Policy Specialist (P4), the Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection) will provide programme management and direct oversight to models of integrated social protection at county level including but not limited to social protection and maternal and child health; social protection and nutrition; social protection and HIV prevention and treatment, social protection and off grid energy solutions and social protection and social welfare case management. Based on the county experiences and the evidence generated from different models the specialist will also provide technical support and evidence based advocacy at the national level for scale up of the county cash plus models. The NOC will work closely with all involved sections (health, nutrition, child protection, HIV and others) both at headquarters and zonal office level. The post will also support to coordination mechanisms for Social Protection at county and national levels.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: Strengthening social protection coverage and linkages with other social services for children

Promotes strengthening of integrated social protection systems, providing technical support to partners to improve the design of cash transfers and child grants and improve linkages with other social protection interventions such as health insurance, public works and social care services as well as complementary services and intervention related to nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, child protection and HIV

Develops programme plans of action for modelling improved linkages and coordination between social protection and essential services for children, and between different levels of government structures for policy implementation.

Works closely with the county and national government to build capacities in coordination and harmonization of the social assistance programmes with clear linkages to the cash plus agenda.

In the context of devolution, collaborates with central and local authorities to improve policies, planning, budgeting, consultation and accountability processes so that decisions and child-sensitive social protection more closely respond to the needs of local communities.

Provides technical assistance to the development of social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children, with special attention the most marginalized. Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners.

Provides evidence to policy makers at national and county level on the identification of relevant policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions.

Conduct monitoring and researches around social protection impact on child outcomes, and use of data and research findings for strengthening programme results.

Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy

Supports correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child focused services – in support of the social protection programme and the country programme overall.

Works with national and county Government to conduct timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives and social protection in particular to reduce child poverty.

Establishes effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.

UNICEF Programme Management

Manages and coordinates technical support around social protection, ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.

Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or other relevant disciplines. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in social protection/social policy.

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Fluency in English and local language is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.